It was at Stamford Bridge in September, with Chelsea down to 10 men, that Jurgen Klopp gave Thiago Alcantara his first taste of English football. The task that day? Conduct the onslaught.
Over the next 45 minutes, Liverpool set up camp outside the Chelsea box, coasting their way to a 2-0 victory as their £20million signing completed 75 passes – more than anyone else since records began.
It would prove decent practice for this final push. Against West Brom, and for long periods at Burnley, Thiago has needed to be Liverpool’s locksmith.